Rumour: Hyundai compact SUV launch in 2018

Hyundai is reportedly planning to launch a compact SUV in 2018, which will be placed below the Creta in the SUV line-up of the company.

Hyundai had earlier previewed a design study concept at the 2016 Auto Expo. This concept was tentatively named the Carlino. Recent reports suggest that the production model won't share design cues with the boxy Carlino concept. Instead, it will be inspired by the recently unveiled Hyundai i30, and the upcoming Hyundai Tucson. It is expected to be built on a stretched iteration of the Grand i10's platform.

With the new Hyundai compact SUV, the Korean automaker is planning to have a 4 model SUV portfolio. This will be headed by the Santa Fe, while the upcoming Tucson will be slotted between the Santa Fe and the Creta. The new compact SUV will then become the entry-level model for Hyundai's SUV line-up, placed under the Creta.

Once launched, the entry-level Hyundai compact SUV will compete against the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Mahindra TUV3OO, and the yet to be launched Tata Nexon.

Source: Car and Bike